Praying for our kids is powerful. It does more to influence their hearts, minds, and choices than anything else. Prayer invites God’s power and love to impact our sons’ and daughters’ lives. Our wisdom and strength have limits, but God can do more than we ask or imagine for our kids.
On a Sunday morning early last year, I popped my head into my daughter’s room. My little “nudge” for her to attend a youth group gathering escalated in just minutes to arguing and tears. I had unknowingly touched a raw place in her heart. The rest of the family headed off to church while we sat on her bed together. We talked, cried, and prayed as we worked to unpack her thoughts and feelings. We didn’t know the powerful prayers we shared that morning would become a turning point in her life.
Our daughter had found herself in a deep valley for months.
She felt unmotivated. Isolated. Disconnected from the God and faith she’d been raised with her whole life.
She took a bare-minimum approach to school, getting by on her natural abilities.
Encouragement to meet new people was met with strong resistance and excuses to stay home.
Her Bible and devotionals gathered dust on the shelf, and her beautiful singing voice stayed silent during Sunday worship.
That morning our daughter shared how she felt like giving up.
Friends she valued had drifted out of her life. She wasn’t ready to open her heart, just to suffer rejection. School felt boring and tedious–she couldn’t muster up energy to explore college or job options. She held an intellectual belief in Jesus but didn’t know how to hear his voice for herself. The Bible seemed dry, and she felt her prayers just hit the ceiling. Low-level depression and anxiety plagued her emotions. She was stuck.
Just weeks after those Sunday morning prayers, we attended a worship service laying groundwork for a city-wide evangelism event. The speaker–Francis Chan–was pleading with the audience to seek God until he was found. She turned and whispered, “Mom, help me!” I wrapped my arms around her and cried out to God in prayer to help her find him in a deeply personal way.
In the weeks and months that followed, a spark ignited inside of our daughter.
God began opening doors to grow her relationships, talents, and faith.
She was accepted into college classes as a high schooler, broadening her circle to include students with similar interest in art.
The door opened for her to join a new community within our church, which led to friendships and a mentorship with a godly leader.
She became a top student at her school, which opened doors to freelance work in design.
College plans are in place, with confidence God is leading the way.
She has stepped up to volunteer as a worship leader and is exploring new ways to serve God.
A specific prayer for friendship was answered through a new, close relationship as God used school, church, and social media connections to bring them together.
As God began answering prayers about our daughter’s circumstances, he began moving greatly in her heart and mind. Scripture was coming alive as if it was written just for her. She prayed bold prayers with a fresh confidence that God would fulfill specific promises of blessing. As her faith was tested by a health struggle, she waited on God and found him faithful to care for her needs. For the first time, the Lord was her God who knew her intimately and loved her with no strings attached.
Our daughter would say her journey with God is just beginning.
But now, she knows she has a God who sees and listens. Her life has expanded beyond the pages of her sketchbook in her room. As she put it, “Now I feel like a whole person, not just a sad person who does art.” Through prayer, God is fulfilling his Word for her:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(James 1:2-4)
Our daughter’s life didn’t change because we’re perfect parents.
It changed because she has a perfect Father in heaven who responds to our prayers. He was listening to every one of Rob and my persistent prayers in the months before she reached her breaking point. For her–and for all of our children–we’ve seen more growth happen through prayer than anything we do on our own. While it’s true that attentive care, discipline, and help are needed, prayer is the most essential of all.
Is your child stuck today, too? Are they caught in destructive habits or relationships? Do they argue and resist your influence? Have anxiety or depression hijacked their security and joy? You’ve tried everything–are you discouraged and lost as a mom or dad?
We earnestly believe great hope and change are possible through prayer. Place your child in God’s hands and trust he loves them. With his help and power, anything is possible.
We’re thrilled to share our inspiring resources to help you pray for your son or daughter!
Each book offers scripture and prayers to cover every part of your child’s life.
God bless you and your family!
Our daughter is moving on from a 4 year relationship and we need prays for her to look to Christ for the relationship she’s grieving. He will sustain her we know but prayers that she will see his work in her life.
Thanks❤️
That’s a huge loss and life change! We’ll be praying with you for God to fill the void with his love.
Our oldest daughter is making terrible decisions, she has pulled away from God and is being defiant to her family. She is 29 and lives on her own in Michigan. But she needs God to come back into her life. She accepted Jesus in junior high and lived for him but went to college and got her doctorate and has turned away. Oh how we grieve.
Also our youngest daughter has graduated with her masters and is looking for a job in sports event management. She is a strong Christian but is getting depressed as she waits for God to give her a job. She wants good friendships and a Christian boyfriend.
Everything you said above gives me hope and hits the exact prayer requests we have!! Can’t wait to read this book!
Deanna, we will pray with you for your daughters! I’m sure your burden for them is so, so heavy. Trusting God sees every detail and cherishes your prayers.
Love this post! Thanks for all your wisdom- I always soak it in! Our daughter is only 1, but already I see such a soft and tender heart in her. Please pray that we would have wisdom to parent her well and that she will experience and know Christ’s love for her!
We will pray for your sweet girl, and for you as you raise her in the love of Jesus! What a gift to have parents who cover her with prayer from the beginning of her precious life.
My son, wisdom yo be the teacher He (God) intended him to be us be ablessing to.those around him. My daughter’s, wisdom in.her work and open.door for a better work enviroment.
Praying for your son and daughter, Jerry, as they use their gifts and talents in their work. Asking God to give them purpose, direction, and blessing in all they do.
My prayer for both my son and my two daughters is that they feel that God loves them everyday and and that they return to their first love for him and his body and find a way back to following him as he wants them to so he can bless them with his best for them
Sherri, thank you for sharing your heart with us. We are praying for God to capture your son and daughters’ hearts again, so they love and serve him and others. Praying for you, too, as you hold on to hope in God for each of them. Bless you!
My husband and I don’t have children yet, but we are praying that we will be able to start expanding our family this year! But I don’t think it’s too early begin praying! My prayer for my future children is that the Lord would capture their hearts at a very young age and that they would find their confidence and security in Him.
Cailin, we’re praying that God would bless the desire of your heart for a child. We are praying with you in this waiting season that God would claim each of your children as his own. May they respond to the Spirit from a young age and commit their way to follow Jesus always. Thank you for sharing your prayer request with us–we’ll lift you up!
My children are young. I pray that they choose the right friends. I pray they stand against the grain when it goes against their morals. I pray that they walk in God’s will for their lives and learn to love Him and have a relationship with Him.
Praying with you that your little ones walk closely with God each day. We trust him to guide their steps and give them courage to love and obey Jesus in every situation. Blessings to you and your family!
Prayers for our sons. One is a firefighter/paramedic in Kansas City. Prayer for his safety and wisdom as he responds to fire calls and treats patients. He and his long time girl friend are also looking for a church to attend together. Prayers that the Lord would lead them to the right church.
Our younger son has just entered the Marines and is in training for the infantry. Prayers he would learn all that he needs to know, stays healthy in body, mind and soul. Prayers that he would stay strong in his faith and find like minded Marines and attend church on base and be fed the word.
Wow, you raised strong, servant-hearted men! We will pray with you for wisdom, health and safety, and faith to stand firm in Christ. And, for them to find godly community to build them up. Blessings to you, dear friends!
What an awesome testimony!
That our sons would not be easily persuaded by their friends, but would stand for truth, do what’s right. (Who knew Kindergarteners had such influence!!!)
Aryn, we feel you! The pressures start from day one, don’t they? We will be lifting up your son, asking God to put his feet on solid ground and commit his life fully to Jesus. We’re asking for God’s hand to shield his heart, mind, and body from harm. And, we’re praying for God to pour out his wisdom and courage for you as a parent. Every blessing to you and your family!
Our daughter is facing a decision about her marriage and I am praying that God be allowed to help her decide. I know that He already sees the results but I want her to lean on Him.
Praying with you for your daughter! And thanks for sharing your request–it’s a good reminder that our kids need our prayers even as adults.
That my son who struggles with ADHD and speech issues find his confidence so that he can grow as be secure in who he is.
Becca, your request hits close to home since our son also struggles with ADHD (along with other challenges). He, too, feels out of step with others sometimes and feels “not enough.” We’re praying with you for a confident, secure heart in your son, and that he believes to his core that he’s a priceless child of God. Thanks for sharing!
Prayers for each of our 4 children to deepen their relationship with God and that they would not give in to the worldly ways.
Thanks for sharing with us, Alicia! To follow Jesus, our kids have to push upstream and we too feel that burden for our own kids. We’re praying with you for your four children, that they know God’s voice as their own shepherd. And, that the Word is alive in each of them and transformative in the way they think and live. God bless each of you!
This is such an important topic. Thanks for sharing. For writing. Blessings.
Blessings to you and your family!
I pray my son will encounter Jesus in a real way and follow Him fervently.
Thank you for sharing your heart for your son, Paris! We are praying with you that he will put his trust in Christ and love him with his whole heart, mind, and strength.
Thank you for your sharing. Pray for my daughter 13 years old that she grow in faith and to be in God’s purpose for her. Pray that her love for God do not depend on the circumstances. Stay blessed!
We are praying for you and your daughter. We’re asking God to grow a faith and trust in him that endures through whatever she might face. And, that the Word will give her strength and transform her mind to think like Jesus. Blessings to you!
I raised my daughter to love the Lord and respect herself as one of His daughters. She just turned 37; after 10 yrs in Army, and dropping out on her Masters’ program right before graduation, she has moved out of state and does not reach out at all for contact. My prayer is that her heart will again be softened and tender toward God and she would recognize that the lifestyle she lives goes against God’s standards. I pray that she would desire God’s best for her life. Also that we would be close again as mother and daughter; my heart aches for that relationship again.
Thank you for sharing your hopes and prayers with us, Wanda. We’ll join you in lifting up your daughter. May the Lord capture her heart so she surrenders her life to him in every way. And may he restore your relationship and fill it with trust and love. God bless you as you wait for the Lord to give the desires of your heart.